The Luxman K-373 was a three-head stereo cassette deck from Luxman’s 300 Series, built around a stable, low-resonance transport and a feature set intended to combine recording accuracy with day-to-day operating convenience. Its core design used separate Hexalam record and playback heads, together with a double-gap ferrite erase head, allowing the deck to monitor and manage recording and playback with the benefits of a true three-head system. Luxman positioned the Luxman K-373 as a functional, well-equipped cassette deck with strong recording capability, selected components, and support for system integration through its System Bus connection.
The transport construction was a central part of the Luxman K-373 design. Luxman specified a solid aluminium die-cast mechanism base, chosen to improve resistance to vibration within the cassette transport assembly. A large flywheel was also used to contribute to even and stable tape movement. These details were aimed at maintaining consistent tape handling, which was especially important in a cassette deck built for serious recording use. The claimed wow and flutter figure of 0.045% reflected this emphasis on stable running performance.
For recording and playback, the Luxman K-373 used precision Hexalam heads made from multi-coated, super-hard Permalloy. The record and playback heads were separate, while erasure was handled by a double-gap ferrite head. This head arrangement allowed the deck to provide a dedicated recording path and a dedicated playback path, rather than relying on a shared record/playback head. The published frequency response figures were 15Hz to 22kHz with metal tape, 15Hz to 21kHz with chrome tape, and 15Hz to 20kHz with normal tape.
The Luxman K-373 also included an internal head demagnetiser. Luxman described this as a way of preventing the gradual magnetisation of the tape heads, which could otherwise restrict dynamic performance, particularly in the high-frequency range. The inclusion of an onboard demagnetising function made maintenance more convenient, as it was built directly into the deck rather than requiring a separate accessory.
A Sorbothane cassette stabiliser was fitted in the cassette compartment. Its purpose was to hold the cassette securely and reduce the transfer of unwanted vibration to the cassette shell. This was supported by the deck’s wider mechanical approach, where vibration control and stable tape movement were treated as important parts of the recording and playback process.
The Luxman K-373 provided fine bias adjustment for matching the deck to the tape being used. This allowed the user to adjust bias more precisely for the selected tape type, supporting better recording alignment with normal, chrome, and metal cassettes. It also included a Rec Return function. After level setting and fine bias adjustment, the Rec Return button could be used so that, at the end of a recorded track, the deck would create the correct pause after the title and then switch automatically into record-pause mode.
Noise reduction and recording support were extensive for a cassette deck in this class. The Luxman K-373 included Dolby B, Dolby C, and Dolby HX, along with an MPX filter. Signal-to-noise ratio was listed at 74dB with Dolby C, 66dB with Dolby B, and 58dB without Dolby, measured with metal tape. The front panel also included a microphone input and a precise FL recording level display, giving the deck practical flexibility for both line-level and microphone-based recording.
Operational features included Music Search, Blank Search, Blank Skip, introductory scan, timer playback, timer recording, CD synchro operation, display dimming, Line Phase Sensor, STAR circuit, and System Bus connectivity. These functions placed the Luxman K-373 within a broader Luxman system concept, where convenience features and integrated control were part of the overall design of the 300 Series.
Features
- Three-head cassette deck with separate record and playback heads
- Precision Hexalam heads for recording and playback
- Double-gap ferrite erase head
- Stable low-resonance transport system
- Solid aluminium die-cast mechanism construction
- Large flywheel for stable tape transport
- Built-in head demagnetiser
- Sorbothane cassette stabiliser
- Fine bias adjustment
- Rec Return function
- Dolby B, Dolby C and Dolby HX
- Music Search, Blank Search, Blank Skip and introductory scan